Petr Cech may have a question or two with his goalkeeping but after today’s goalkeeping display, Hilario is the 20 questions version. Starting with – is he for real?
He flopped like a fish trying to stop Tevez’s weak shot. For the second goal Craig Bellamy streaked across the field blowing past John Obi Mikel and from wide cut the ball towards goal. Hilario toppled over like a majestic sequoia. The ball had already found net. Till then Chelsea had a chance. But Juliano Belletti filling in for Ashley Cole also had a forgettable match.
He got beaten all ends up by Gareth Barry and reacted by pushing him down. Tevez converted the penalty. Belletti was given his marching orders. Six minutes later Ballack received his second yellow for mugging Tevez and was ejected. The Blues were reduced to nine men in the 80th minute. The Stamford Bridge debacle got worse as City gang busted its way for Bellamy’s second goal against the thinned Chelsea defense.
It was hard to remember that Chelsea actually scored two goals. They might have been enough for a draw. But Cech’s absence was keenly felt. With him out for a month and Cole gone for the season, Chelsea looks vulnerable.